EU plotting to catch up with research into 5G

Although the EU effectively gave the world world 2G thanks to the GSM standard, it’s been quite apparent for quite some time that Europe is lagging way behind in the 4G stakes. So it’s started a number of initiatives to put itself at the front of 5G. Especially since no-one really knows what 5G will offer than a faster version of 4G can’t. In 2013, the EU said it would spend €700 million (£560 million) on 5G technology research by 2021. On Monday [June 16th 2014], the EU got one step faster to achieving its goal by signing a deal with South Korea. As EU comms commissioner put it, “5G will become the new lifeblood of the digital economy and digital society.”

Neelie Kroes announced an agreement between the EU and South Korea to cooperate in Seoul on Monday.

Significantly, the pair agreed to work to ensure the necessary radio frequencies were able to support %G plus set a timetable for the roll-out for 5G by Q1 2016.

“This is the first time ever that public authorities have joined together in this way, with the support of private industry, to push forward the process of standardisation,” Kroes commented.

With 5G, the EU estimates that a high-definition movie could be downloaded in just six seconds was opposed to six minutes with 4G.

European companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica and Orange, which are all part of Europe’s 5G Infrastructure Association, will work with South Korea’s 5G Forum as part of the new agreement.

Last year, China’s emerging telecoms giant, Huawei, announced that it planned to put $600 m into 5G research and expected a 5G network to be ready for deployment by 2020.